U18: USA: 2019 WJC18

[Whalers Fan]

This is the first game of the tournament I have been able to watch (just got back from South Carolina where I didn't have access to the NHL Network). I thought Caufield looked like he was pressing a little bit, as if he was feeling a little pressure for being within striking distance of Ovechkin's tournament goals record. Hughes and Zegras played great games, and Knight made some key saves in the first period when Finland seemed to be more in control of the play. Overall, a much easier game than you would normally expect against the Fins, but they've had a very poor tournament.

 

[William H Bonney]

I was worried about this game and i think in first period our defense was pretty bad and Finns had many good chances. Knight was excellent. He was able to make those saves when needed and i think our defense stepped up in second and third period. Third and fourth line did what they needed to do. Was great in faceoffs and got some zone time when team need it from them. First line was really good. Caufield was maybe littlebit quiet today but Hughes led the way like he should. Second line need to be better in semifinal. Turcotte has been really quiet in last two games. Boldy was also pretty quiet today and Brink took couple stupid penalties. Overall it was good perfomance.

Caufield need three goals in two games and Hughes seven points if they want those records from Ovie and Kucherov.

Hughes needs six points to break Kucherov's single tournament record. A record that's actually even more in reach is 4 points to break Ovechkin's all-time U18 points record.

 

[MartyOwns]

Hughes needs six points to break Kucherov's single tournament record. A record that's actually even more in reach is 4 points to break Ovechkin's all-time U18 points record.

keep going i’m almost there

 

[JLT]

Here are the full highlights from the USA Finland game...

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hughes and Zegras were great. The defense was really good, as was Knight. The second line needs to pick it up. They've played two bad games in a row.

 

[SK94]

 

[SK94]

Brutal period. PP was terrible. Only positive thing is that game is still scoreless.

 

[Svedu]

Big difference in Russias and Finlands coaching staff. Russia plays much more compact and the sick thing is Finland would probably beat Russia four out of time times with a decent coach.
USA has not stepped on the gas yet. Spencer Knight looks like a stud, wow.

 

[SK94]

Terrible mistake from Hughes. They should shoot much more. PP is terrible but there hasn't been any adjustments. It is just awful. Also i dont care how well Russia is defending but our top guys have to be better.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Caufield to the rescue, once again

 

[William H Bonney]

That's the 2 worst periods of hockey I've ever seen this team play. Lazy (best exemplified by Hughes on the PK goal) and stupid (choose one of the 50 forced drop or cross ice passes) hockey. A lot of credit goes to Team Russia as they're playing a completely different style than they did in the first matchup, with excellent first man pressure while the rest of the guys are sitting on the inevitable 90 foot cross ice pass, easily picking it off nearly every time. This is one of the challenges of facing very little adversity over 2 years. How do you react when what's normally worked for you isn't at all? Can the players and coaches adapt?

Both goalies have been excellent. Askarov is an exciting prospect for Russian hockey.

Great job by Hughes to redeem himself and spring Caufield for a great move and shot early in the 3rd to tie it. Hopefully that wakes them up for a do-or-die third period because they've been sleepwalking for 40 minutes.

And just like that, Caufield again.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Caufield to the rescue, once again

Man he can find the seams on the ice.

 

[notwolfy]

Cole Caulfield is the best pure goal scorer in this class. Hughes is number one in this draft but if the Rangers were smart they would trade down a spot or 2 and take Caulfield.

 

[SK94]

Knight should have stopped that.

 

[JoemAvs]

Cole Caulfield is the best pure goal scorer in this class. Hughes is number one in this draft but if the Rangers were smart they would trade down a spot or 2 and take Caulfield.

They really, really would not..

Jesus..

Ever heard of Kappo Kakko?

Kid is playing amazing but pump the brakes a bit.

Overall not a great game for the US side so far...

Hughes gave up one and Knight the other so far...

Can't have your best guys perform like that...

Taking this to OT would be scary...

 

[William H Bonney]

Geeze. Two posts for Hughes in OT. He looks like he may be hurt or sick as his skating is pretty labored by his standards in this game.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Spencer Knight saved his teammates bacon. Will need to do it again in the SO.

 

[SK94]

Tough loss to take if they lose shootouts.

 

[William H Bonney]

Shoot the puck. You can't take 3 attempts without a shot.

 

[Teemu]

Hope the coaching staff have their resumes updated

 

[SK94]

Brutal shootouts. Third tournament in a row when team cant handle pressure in big games.

And also it is stupid that both teams have to shoot different ends. It is not fair.

 

[William H Bonney]

Fitting that one of their worst efforts as a team in 2 years was capped off by the worst shootout attempts I've ever seen.

Congrats to Team Russia. They learned a lot after the first matchup and totally changed their approach for this one. Askarov was fantastic, but their team play was even better. Full marks to their coaches and players for shifting things up, sticking to it, and getting the result.

Wroblewski was badly out coached in this one. You would have never expected this team to rely so heavily on one line but the Turcotte line has been invisible for 3 games and the bottom 6 is pedestrian and hasn't even played up to that standard in the tournament. It's a good thing guys like Kaliyev and Robertson are sitting at home.

In the grand scheme of things, this doesn't mean anything for these players as prospects (just look at Russia's lack of success in this tournament) but it's the type of choke job they'll unfortunately remember for the rest of their lives.

 

[canuck2010]

Shootouts at any level of hockey are a joke. No place in the game at all. You play until someone wins, the other is bullshit. I felt the pain of a shootout loss many times.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[William H Bonney]

Shootouts at any level of hockey are a joke. No place in the game at all. You play until someone wins, the other is bull****. I felt the pain of a shootout loss many times.

A shootout is a stupid way to end medal round games, but this team should have never let it get to the shootout in the first place. They didn't show up to play with any urgency and it cost them dearly. It's a good lesson to learn for young hockey players.